Bale Injury Fears Eased

Wales winger Gareth Bale has been passed fit for the World Cup qualifier against Scotland on Friday despite sitting out training for a second successive day, on Wednesday.

Bale missed training on Tuesday, along with West Ham United pair Jack Collison and James Collins having been handed an extra day's rest after playing for Tottenham Hotspur in the defeat to Fulham on Sunday.

But the 23 year old's absence from training on Wednesday sparked fears over the Spurs man's fitness as Wales look to breathe life into the World Cup qualifying campaign against Scotland at Hampden Park then against Croatia at the Liberty Stadium next Tuesday.

Assistant manager Kit Symons clarified on Tuesday: "There is no bad news. We have very strict protocols within our group and, having played on Sunday, Gareth was never going to train."

Striker Sam Vokes added: "We think he is going to be fit, he is in and around the team and will be training in the next couple of days with Friday in mind.

"It is fantastic to play alongside him, the last couple of goals I have scored for Wales have come from his assists, and in the Scotland game here he turned the game on its head.

"He has been different class for club and country for a while now, every game he plays in he is excellent and he will be a big player for us on Friday."

Having enjoyed the most profitable season of his career, scoring 16 league goals to help Tottenham in the Premier League top four, Bale is now regarded as the central figure of a Welsh side who under Chris Coleman have collected one win from their opening four qualifying games.

That sole victory came via two late Bale goals last October against Friday's opponents, and of late the Tottenham flyer has shown signs that his best form is returning at just the right time to kick-start Wales's hopes of qualifying for Rio in 2014.

Meanwhile, after Liverpool's Joe Allen and Leeds United's Steve Morison withdrew on Monday with respective shoulder and calf injuries, Sunderland midfielder David Vaughan will miss the visit to Glasgow but is likely to return for the second game at home to Croatia.